Christ's Doctrine of Faith: A Study of "Believing" in John's Gospel (John 8:30)

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The forty-fourth occurrence of faith in the Gospel of John is John 8:30. The text says: “As he spake these words, many believed on him” (KJV). So, as always, what is the context of this passage and what is some information concerning faith in Christ that we can glean from this passage?

           First, as usual, let’s examine the context! Right after John 8:24, where Jesus tells the Jews that, if they do not believe “I am he,” they shall die in their sins, those same Jews respond to Him by asking Him who He is, to which Jesus’s answer is “Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.” Christ goes on to say that He has many things to say and to judge of them, but the One who sent Him is true, and that He (Christ) speaks to the world those things which He learned of Him. The text then interjects to tell us that these Jews did not understand that He was speaking to them about the Father. Then, Jesus tells them that, when they have lifted up the Son of Man, then they will know that He is He, and that He does nothing of Himself, but, as His Father has taught Him, He speaks those things. He goes on to say that He who sent Him is with Him, elaborating that the Father has not left Him alone, because He always does those things that please Him. The text then, once again, interjects to inform us that, as Jesus said these words, many believed on Him. This is the context of John 8:30!

Second, let’s consider some facts about faith from here! Here, we see that to believe in Christ is to, with the heart/inner man (1 Peter 3:4; cf. Romans 10:10), receive His claims concerning Himself. Because, as we saw back in 8:24, the Lord describes unbelief as believing not that He is He, meaning the One He claims Himself to be, because the unbelieving Jews’ immediate response to this statement is to ask Jesus who He is. Also, we see that to believe in Jesus is to receive His words (cf. John 3:32-34), because we are told that these Jews believed Jesus “as He was speaking” these words. To use a Biblical, simple, and helpful definition of faith here, they were taking Jesus at His Word. [1] However, we will see, in future posts, how this taking of Jesus at His Word is only superficial, and how specifically it is superficial. This is some information about faith in Christ we can gain from John 8:30!

[1] This is NOT an endorsement of this website; only giving credit where credit is due: https://illbehonest.com/simplicity-of-faith-take-god-at-his-word